On Friday, 03 June, Father Anthony Bondi formally announced the Canonical Orthodox Western Rites Conference for 2011, which is sponsored by The Fraternity of Saint Gragory the Great of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

This Conference will be held at Mt Alvernia Retreat Center. It is located in the village of Wappinger Falls, New York, on 204 acres overlooking the Hudson Valley in Dutchess County. Each room has a private sink, commode, and shower. The Franciscan Friars have been most generous with the cost…even to the point of NOT charging for children, and giving deep discounts to married clergy who come with their wives.

The Antiochian Western Rite Clergy will be invited to be with the ROCOR-WR clergy in this historic event which we pray will be the first of many. There will also be a gathering of Benedictines and possibly their Oblates at the same time. Note, clergy families who bring their children are totally responsible for them and are expected to maintain the usual high standard of behavior. On the First Floor 6 bedrooms are adjoining (1&2) (3&4), (5&6) parents and children can take these bedrooms and leave the adjoining door open so the kids feel more secure and parents can look after them without coming into the hall. The conference is open to clergy and laity. Cost: Individual: $150 Couple: $225 Couple and 2 children: $225

All meals are included!

Directions by car: Mount Alvernia Retreat Center is located in the village of Wappinger Falls, off of Route 9D. It is approximately 60 miles north of New York City and approximately 10 miles south of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Major highways nearby include: Interstate 84, the New York Thruway, Route 9, and the Taconic Parkway. For exact directions, call the Mount Alvernia Office or consult the online map facility at maps.expedia.com. Directions by train: From Grand Central Station, on the Metro-North Hudson Line, the nearest train station is the New Hamburg Station. Call the Metro-North Railroad or check their web site, www.mta.nyc.ny.us/mnr for schedule, fare, and station information. From Albany, New York, on Amtrak, the nearest train station is the Poughkeepsie Station. From Poughkeepsie, take a taxi cab. Call Amtrak or check their web site, www.amtrak.com for schedule, fare, and station information.

Important Note: Accommodations are on a first come, first served basis. There are only 52 rooms available!

To the Russians abroad it has been granted to shine in the whole world the light of Orthodoxy, so that other peoples, seeing their good deeds, might glorify our Father in Heaven, and thus obtain salvationS John of Shanghai & San Francisco